East+Hartford+Education+Association+v.+Board+of+Education

East Hartford Education Association, The Connecticut Education Association, Inc., and Richard P. Brimley, Appellants,  v.  Board of Education of the Town of East Hartford, and Barbara Atwood, Robert Bannon, Kenneth Carrie, M. Glenn Frank, Eleanor Kepler, Walter H. Mills, Jr., Timothy J. Moynihan, Joyce Ruggles and John J. Smith, Jr., individually and in their capacities as members of the Board of Education of the Town of East Hartford, Appellees

 United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

 August 19, 1977 **Background ** In February 1972, the East Hartford Board of Education put in place a dress code for teachers, including ties for men. Mr. Richard Brimley was a teacher of high school English and filmmaking and was typically seen wearing a jacket and sport shirt, without a tie. After the new rule was put in place he still did not wear a tie and was reprimanded, he then appealed to the principle and was told he should wear a tie when he taught English but he did not have to during filmmaking classes. He then appealed to the superintendent, but without success he began wearing the tie until he suddenly stopped and was reprimanded again. No disciplinary action was taken. **Decision/Rationale ** The claim was that Mr. Brimley was making a “symbolic speech” by refusing to wear a tie, so the issue was concerning Freedom of Speech. The court considered the goals of the school board in requiring its teachers to dress somewhat formally, which inevitably was to create a respectful classroom. Therefore, the decision of the Supreme Court was that the matter was not a significant Constitutional issue and said that that the District Court made the right decision in dismissing the complaint. It also would have been more notable if disciplinary action had been taken. **Impact on Education ** A major impact on education is the standard put in place after this case saying that “neither this Court, the Court of Appeals nor the District Court is in a position to weigh the policy arguments in favor of and against a rule regulating hairstyles as a part of regulations governing a uniformed civilian service.” This of course includes dress codes. This case also set forth the legality of education boards in implementing a dress code and requiring teachers to follow it.